Light for life-saving stations



R. s. JENNINGS. LIGHT FOR LIFE SAVING STATIONS. No. 246,679. PatentedSept. 6,1881.

' ATTORNEY.

UNrrEn STATES PATENT @FFICEO RALPH S. JENNINGS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

LIGHT FOR LIFE-SAVING STATIONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 246,679, datedSeptember 6, 1881.

Application filed May 19, 1881. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH S. JENNINGS, of Baltimore city, State ofMaryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lightsfor Life-Savin g Stations; and I hereby declare the same to be fully,clearly, and exactly described as follows, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, in which a device embodying my invention is shownin side elevation.

My said invention has for its object to furnish a transportableapparatus embodying the mechanism necessary for producing the electriclight, and adapted for use at life-saving stations upon the coast, ashereinafter set forth.

Shipwrecks due to vessels driving on shore are of comparatively rareoccurrence during the day-time, as the shore is visible from such adistance thatunless the vessel be dismasted or disabled she can be keptoff shore, sea-room being afforded for the necessary maneuvers. Thestranding of ships nearly always occurs during the night, when thedarkness due to the prevalence of a rain or snow storm or gale rendersit difficult for the crew of the life-savin g station to exactly locatethe ship, and much loss of time in reaching the wreck by life-boat orlife-line results. Furthermore, the crew of the ship,being unaware ofthe preparations of those on shore, are apt to resort to expedients oftheir own to save their lives, which often result disastrously.

I have devised a vehicle carrying a powerful light and means formaintaining it for as long a time as is ever required, adapted to bedrawn by a horse or by the crew of the station to a point on the beachopposite the wreck, whereby the exact position of the latter may bedetermined and the mortar for throwing the life-line may be accuratelyaimed. The ships crew, moreover, perceiving the light at a distance atwhich the ordinarylantern would be invisible, know that succor isapproaching, and desist from efforts to reach the shore by means of theships boats or spars.

In the drawing, A is an ordinary upright boiler, and a a small enginemounted upon a bracket, 0, secured to the boiler.

13 is an ordinary fly-wheel, and U a dynamo electric machine driven by abelt, b, from the fly-wheel.

D is a horizontal plate secured to the bracket 0 and on it is centrallypivoted a plate, D, having standards d bolted upon its upper face. To ashaft journaled in the standards 01 is secured a parabolic reflector, E,in the focus of which is located the electric light 6.

F is a casing to protect the points, inclosed in front by a glass plate,f.

The entire device is mounted on Wheels h, and shafts (or a tongue) Grareprovided, whereby the device may be drawn along the beach. Thereflector and light, being pivoted about a vertical axis, may be turnedso as to sweep the whole horizon, and being also pivoted about ahorizontal shaft, the axis of the parabola may be tilted in a verticalplane.

The boiler is, by preference, provided with couplings similar to thoseof the ordinary steam fireengines for attachment to pipes leading from astationary boiler in the house at the station, whereby the portableboiler is kept supplied with hot water, and steam is gotten up at shortnotice. When the alarm is given that a vessel has been driven on shorethe pipes are uncoupled, fire is lighted beneath the boiler, and themachine is drawn to a point opposite the wreck. The engine being set inmotion, the beam of light is directed upon the vessel, and communicationis set up with her in the usual way by means of the mortar or life-boat.

It will be seen that the machine described embodies all the mechanismfor producing and maintaining a bright light, and for directing it inany desired direction. In lieu of the steamengine, a compressed-air orgas engine or other motor may be used to drive the dynamo-electricmachine.

I am aware that lime-lights and ordinary lights have been heretoforemounted upon vehicles-such as upon the trucks of hook-andladdercarriages, or on locomotives, or on carriages for use instreet-processions-and such I do not claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- mounted, as described, at the rear of themachine, substantially as and for the purpose set [0 forth.

RALPH S. JENNINGS.

Vitnesses:

W. S. WILKINsON. R. D. WILLIAMS.

